Hood latch and operating means therefor



Jan# 13, 1942. R. HILL ETAL Hoon LATH AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 4, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1942. R. HILL r-:TAL

HOOD LATCH AND OPERATING MEANS THEBEFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1941 Jan. 13, 1942. R. HILL E'rAl.

HOOD LATCH lAND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 4. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 e m f M ,W a M Jan. 13, 1942. R. HM. Em 2,270,053 f HOOD LATCH AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED ST 2,270,053 ICE HOOD LATCH AND PERATING MEANS THEREFOR Rowland Hill and Walter H. Krause, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Chicago Forging & Manufacturing Company, Chicagb', Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 4, 1941, Serial No. 373,109

(Cl. 29E-220) Our invention relates to an improvement in "t cured at its rear end, a hinge 3 being diagraml1 Claims.

hood latches and is particularly applicable to hood latches as applied toalligator type hoods, in which the hood closure is hinged or movably mounted at its rear end in such fashion that the forward end may be swung up to give access to the parts Within the hood.

`One purpose is the provision of an improved type of latch for an alligator hood closure in which the latch may initially be released only from within the car.

Another purpose is the provision of improved connecting means between the latch and the internally operable actuating or releasing means therefor.

Another purpose is the provision of an improved latch structure operable by remote control within the car.

Another purpose is the provision of an improved articulated lever or control member, part of which serves as or controls a latch, which lever may be moved to inoperative position either by an intended movement on the part of the user or by the action of the keeper when the alligator type closure is moved into closed position.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for assembling such a lever.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

We illustrate our invention more or less diamatically illustrated. It Will be understood, however, that in general some type of multiple or lever arm hinged structure may be employed. Since the details of the hinge do not of themselves form part of the present invention, the hinge 3 will be considered as merely a diagrammatic illustration of a hinge for movably supporting the rear end of the closure 2.

4 illustrates an instrument panel, upon which y may be mounted any suitable control button 5,

connected to the wire structure 6, whereby, as will later appear, a pull on the button 5 actuates the below described latch. Referring, for example, to Fig. 3, 'I illustrates a combined centering member and latch keeper, which may for eX- upon the closure 2.

grammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig, l, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial bottom plan View;

Fig. 5 is a View like Fig. 4 illustrating the parts in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a partial bottom plan view of a variant form of the device;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig- 7;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 7, with the parts in a diiierent position;

Fig. 10 is a partial bottom plan View of a still further variation;

Fig. l1 is a similar View with the parts in a different position;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I,2-I2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 14 is a detail. v

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates an automobile hood, and 2 a hood closure, which may be hinged or otherwise movably seample have a Spearhead la, terminating at its upper end in a latching ledge 8. The Spearhead shaft I may be secured to a plate or support 9, which in turn is mounted in any suitable manner A lower plate or support, generally indicated'as I0, is mounted in any suitable fashion on the hood I, in vertical alignment with `the support 9. It is apertured as at II to receive the end of the Spearhead and is further apertured as at I2 to permit the penetration therethrough of a safety latch I3, pivoted as at I4 vupon the support 9. The safety latch does notof itself form part of the pres-ent invention and will not be further described.

, I5 is a spring, herein shown as coiled about the' keeper stem I and compressed between the support v9 and a cup I6, which has a bottom iiange I1 adapted to engage the upper face of the support I0. It will be understood that when the closure 2 is in raised position, the cup I6 is thrust by the spring downwardly about the head la, and its upper flange I8 serves as a stop for limiting its further downward movement along the stem 1. When the parts are in the closed position, they spring I5 is compressed, and

when the below described latch structure is released, nt is eiiective to raise the closure 2 a slight distance above the hood I and to raise the latch ledge 8 of the Spearhead Ia up out of alignment with the latch lever 22, which is adapted to cooperate with the portion 8 of the keeper l. It is shown in cooperating or latching position in Fig. 4 and is shown in releasing position in Fig. 5, being illustrated in the position the lever 22 takes when it is overridden by the -conic portion Ia of the keeper. In Fig, 5 this Loverriding release position is shown in full line,

whereas the intended release position in response to the operation of the user is shown in dotted line position.

The lever 22 is normally moved to latching position as by the spring 25, which may be secured' neck being of such width in relation to the space between the ends of the arms 28 and 29 to give the two lever members a substantial range of possible relative rotation. The two portions of l the lever may be connected together by any suitable conining means, such as the strap 34, which may form part of or be secured to the bottom of the plate I0. This strap 34 is spaced from the opposite bottom face of the plate I between the points 35 and 3S to permit a substantial range of movement of the lever structure so provided.

The wire 6a is provided with a securing collar 31, which passes through an aperture 38 in an upturned lug 39 at the end of the lever portion 33. It includes a portion 40 which carries a set screw 4| whereby the securing collar 31 may be adjustably secured to the wire 6a. It will be understood that flexure is permitted, as there is a clearance between the exterior of the collar 31 and the aperture through which it passes. The plate I0 is apertured as at 42 to give access to the set screw 4I, and the set screw is always aligned with the aperture 42, since the reduced neck of the sleeve 31 which passes through the aperture 38 has opposed fiat walls 43, as shown in Fig. 6, which prevent its rotation in relation to the ear 39.

In the use of the device, and assuming that the parts are in the position in which they are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with the hood closure latched, the spring 25 is effective to hold the lever structure 22, 33 in locking position, with the portion 24 overlying the locking ledge 8 of the keeper. When in this position the end of the arm 28 may abut against a corresponding ledge 29a in the lever portion 33, thus making the lever in effect a single rigid element. Also, a downward projection Illa is effective to serve as a limit for the movement of the latch lever as a Whole toward latching position when the keeper is withdrawn. This will be clear from the relation of the parts in Fig. 4. When the operator wishes to withdraw the latch, he merely pulls in 0n the wire 6a by use of the manual knob 5, and the effect is to useY the lever 22, 33 as a single solid member until it engages, for example, the inner end of the, aperture or slot provided by the keeper 34, as at 36. It is shown in this position in dotted line in Fig. 5. Then the spring I is effective to raise the closure, its upward movement being limited, of course, by the safety latch I3. After the closure has been raised and the operator releases the wire 6a, then the spring 25 moves the lever 22, 33 as a unit until it engages an edge of the member |0a, which limits its further counterclockwise movement, referring to the position of the parts in which they are shown in Fig. 4.

When the outside operator, garage attendant or the like, wishes to move the closure to locked position, he merely presses it down far enough to cause the conic head 1a and the locking ledge to the later forms. the wire or tension member 6a, the result is to reach latching position. The conic portion 1a rides over the edge of the member 24 and directs the lever, rotating the lever member 22 to the full line position of Fig. 5, while the other lever portion 33 rotates in relation to the lever 22, as shown in full line position in Fig. 5. As soon as the keeper is in bottom position, the spring 25 snaps the two lever members 22 and 33 back into the full line position of Fig. 4 and the device is again locked until the driver pulls outwardly on the wire 6a.

It will be noted that the exibility of the wire, as shown in Fig. 5, permits the lever members 22 and 33 to move in relation to each other when Y the keeper rides over the locking edge 24. The

friction between the wire 6a and the surrounding conduit 6 is suicient to prevent the outer lever portion 33 from moving back, as it moves when it is actually pulled back by the wire 0a. 'Ihe conduit 6 is secured to the plate I0 by any suitable clamping means 12 and guide portion 13 formed on the plate I0.

Referring to the form of Figs. '1, 8 and 9, we illustrate a latching lever |40, pivoted to the bottom of the plate I 0, as at I4I, and having a latching portion or arcuate edge |42, adapted to serve as a latching member in relation to the keeper ledge 8. This lever is normally urged to latching position as by the coil spring |43 secured at one end to an ear 44 on the plate I0, and at the other end to an ear 45 on the lever |40. Pivoted to the lever |40, as at 46, is an actuating lever 41, having a ange 48, through which passes a Wire 6a to the tting 40. 'Ihe spring |43 is effective normally to hold, the parts in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 7, with the rotation of the lever 41 in relation to the lever |40 limited by the ear or lug 49. 50 is any suitable guide through which passes the lever 41. One end 5| may serve as a limit for the outward movement of the latching lever assembly when it is in the dotted line position of Fig. 9. A flange 52, or any other suitable stop means, may be employed as a forward limit when the keeper is withdrawn.

The operator can release the latch from within the automobile by pulling on the wire 6a, as by operating the manual knob 5 of Fig. 1, which will be understood to be inferentially included in When the operator does pull on move the levers |40 and 41' bodily to the dotted line position of Fig. 9, thus withdrawing the levei` 40 and the latch portion |42 against the spring |43 and permitting the coil spring |5 to raise the closure 2, the safety latch |3 serving as an upward limit. On the other hand, when the garage attendant wishes to close the closure 2, he moves or slams it downl and the conic portion 1a of the keeper cams the lever |40 into release position. At such time the levers |40 and 41 are relatively rotated about the center 46, and the lever 41. remains substantially in the full line position of Fig. 9. This involves a slight tilting of the lever 41 in relation to the end of the wire 5a, but this slight exure of the wire is not damaging, and there is no retrograde movement of the wire 6a in its flexible conduit 6. In other words, what is provided is a break joint latching lever which acts as a single unitary lever when the operator pulls in on the wire 6a, but which breaks when the keeper surface edge 1a cams over the latching edge |42 of the lever |40.

Referring to the form of Figs. l0 and following, We illustrate a latch actuating lever 6I), which is pivoted to the lower side of the plate I0, as

at 6|, and has pivoted' to it as at 32v a-supplemental lever 63. The spring 64 is effective normally to urge the parts into the latching position in which they are shown in Fig. 10. The

lever 60 is eiective to actuate the slide 65, mounted in any-suitable guide 66 for linear movement toward and away from the keeper. Any suitable connecting means may be employed whereby the lever 60, through the spring 64, is effective to urge the latch slide 65 to latching position. We may, for example, extend the pivot pin 62 to provide a head or engagement 62a, which penetrates an aperture 61 in the bolt 65. The guide 66 may be slotted, as at 68, to permit movement of the head 62a toward and away from the keeper. The connection between the lever 63 and the wire 6a is as described in connection with the previously described forms.

When the operator pulls on they vwire Ga, an ear or lug 69 is effective to rotate the lever 60 unitarily with the lever 62 to the release position. When, however, the garage attendant closes the closure 2, the cam surface 1a is eiTective to cam the bolt 65 and the lever 60 to the release position in which they are shown in Fig. l1, and the lever 63 rotates slightly in relation to the lever 60 about the pivot 62 and slightly flexes the wire 6a, as shown in Fig. 11. However, there is no bodily yretrograde movement of the outer end of the lever 63 or of the wire 6a. The friction of the wire 6a in the conduit 6 is sufficient to prevent the outer end of the lever 63 from retrograde movement. The lever B3 is supported and guided by any suitable keeper 10,

the edge 1I of which may serve as a stop for the lever structure.

It will be realized that, whereas we have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention. We therefore wish our description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting us to our precise showing.

For example, where we have illustrated the wire 6a,- it will be understood that any suitable actuating means may be employed. For example, a simple wire with spaced bearings or aligning means or any other suitable tension member may be used, whereby the operator, by moving the manual member 5 or its equivalent, may from within the automobile draw out on the actuating lever 22 and release the latch.

The use and operation of our invention are as follows:

In all forms of the device we provide a break joint or lever structure in which two levers are pivoted together and in which one lever 22 or |46 serves as a latching connection or in which one lever 60 serves as means for actuating the latch element, such as 65. In each form, when the operator pulls on the knob 5, and thus draws in on the tension member 6a, the multiple lever structure moves to latching position as a unit and releases the keeper for upward movement under influence of the spring l5. In all of the forms a break joint is provided so that, when the closure 2 is moved to closing position, the camming portion 'la of the keeper, or its equivalent, cams the actual latching portion or element back and permits the keeper to ride down into latching position. In all forms this camming movement -of the keeper is ineffective to cause retrogrademovement of theiouter end of the actu- CII ating lever 33 or 41 or 63, and the break joint permits the twolever portions to have a relative movement, which avoids the necessity of forcing the outer end of the actuating lever back to release position.

The slight flexure of the outer end of the wire 6a is not disadvantageous, and is insunicient to .closure therefor, and an apertured aligning support on the xed hood member, and a combined keeper and centering member on the hinged hoody closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of said aligning support, said keeper and centering Amember having a locking oiset adapted to penetrate below the top surface of said aligning support, a latch lever pivoted on said aligning support for movement into alignment with the keeper receiving aperture thereof and including a portion adapted to engage the keeper and centering member in locking relationship, an actuating lever pivote'd to the end of said latch lever, a tension member extending from said actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of said two lever members in response to actuation of said tension member to move the latch lever into releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever into locking position.

2. In locking means for an automobile hood having a iixed hood member, and a hinged hood l closure therefor, and an apertured aligning support on the xed hood member, and a combined keeper and centering member on the hinged hood closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of said aligning support, said keeper and centering member having a locking offset adapted to penetrate below the top surface of said aligning support, a latch lever pivoted on said aligning support for movement into alignment with the keeper receiving aperture thereof and including a portion adapted to engage the keeper and centering member in locking relationship, an actu- Y ating lever pivoted to the end of said latch lever,

a tension member extending from said actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of said two lever members in response to actuation of said tension member to move the latch lever into releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever into locking position, including yielding means interposed between said latch lever and said aligning support.

lever in relation to the support and the axis of. the connection between the two levers being parallel, aJ tension :member extending-from. saidactuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of said two lever members in response to the actuation of said tension member to move said latch member to releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever toward locking position.

4. In locking means for an automobile hood having a fixed hood member and a hinged hood closure therefor, and an apertured aligning support on the xed hood member, and a combined keeper and centering member on the hinged hood closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of said aligning support, said keeper and centering member having a locking member adapted to penetrate below the top surface of said aligning support, a latch lever pivoted on said `aligning support, an actuating lever pivoted to the end of said latch lever, the axis of rotation of the latch lever in relation to the support and the axis of the connection between the two levers being parallel, a tension member extending from said actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of said two lever members in response to the actuation of said tension member to move said latch member to releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever toward locking position, said latch lever being free to rotate to release position when said keeper and centering member is moved to latching position.

5. In locking means for an automobile hood having a xed hood member, and a hinged hood closure therefor, and an apertured aligning .sup-A port on the fixed hood member, and a keeper on the hinged hood closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of the aligning support, said keeper having a locking portion, a latch lever pivoted on the aligning support, an actuating lever pivoted to said latch lever, a tension member extending from the actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of the two lever members in response to actuation of said tension member to move the latch lever into releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever into locking position.

6. In locking means for an automobile hood having a xed hood member, and a hinged hood closure therefor, and an apertured aligning support on the xed hood member, and a keeper on the hinged hood closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of the aligning support, said keeper having a locking portion, a latch lever pivoted on the aligning support, an actuating lever pivoted at the outer end of said latch lever, a tension member extending from the actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of the two lever members in response to actuation of said tension member to move the latch lever into releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever into locking position.

7. In locking means for an automobile hood having a fixed hood member, and a hinged hood closure therefor, and an apertured aligning support on the fixed hood member, and a keeper on the hinged hood closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of the aligning support, said keeper having a locking portion, a latch lever pivoted on the aligning support, an actuating lever pivoted to said latch lever, a, tension member extending from the actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of the two lever members in response to actuation of said tension member to move the latch lever into releasing position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever into locking position, said latch lever including an integral latching portion adapted to engage said keeper.

8. In locking means for an automobile hood having a fixed hood member, and a hinged hood closure therefor, and an apertured aligning support on the fixed hood member, and a keeper on the hinged hood closure adapted to penetrate the aperture of the aligning support, said keeper having a locking portion, a latch lever pivoted on the aligning support, an actuating lever pivoted to said latch lever, a tension member extending from the actuating lever to a point within the interior of the automobile, means adapted to prevent relative rotation of the two lever members in response to actuation of said tension member to move the latch lever into releasing position, while peimitting relative rotation of said levers in response to the engagement of said keeper with said latch lever when the keeper is moved to closed position, said keeper having a cam surface adapted to cam said latch lever out of latching position, and yielding means tending normally to urge said latch lever into locking position.

9. In a latch assembly for automobile hoods and the like, a latch support, a latch lever pivoted on said support, an unlatching lever pivoted on said latch lever, yielding means eiective normally to urge the latch lever toward latching position, and manually operable means cooperating with the unlatching lever adapted to move the lever` structure unitarily to release position, the pivotal connection betwee'n the two portions being adapted to permit the latch lever to recede from latching position Without actuation of the manual release element.

l0. In a latch assembly for automobile hoods and the like, a latch support, a latch lever pivoted on said support, an unlatching lever pivoted on said latch lever, yielding means eiective normally to urge the latch lever toward latching position, and manually operable means cooperating with the unlatching lever adapted to move the lever structure unitarily to release position, the pivotal connection between the two portions being adapted to permit the latch lever to recede from latching position without actuation of the manual release element, the manually operable means being secured to the outer end of the unlatching lever. i

11. In a latch assembly for automobile hoods and the like, a latch support, a latch lever pivoted on said support, an unlatching lever pivoted on said latch lever, yielding means effective normally to urge the latch lever toward latching position, and manually operable means cooperating with the unlatching lever adapted to move the lever structure unitarily to release position, the pivotal connection between the two portions being adapted to permit the latch lever to recede from latching position without actuation of the manual release element, the manually operable means including a flexible wire secured to an outer portion of the unlatching lever, and guiding means for said wire mounted in relation to the latch support.

ROWLAND HILL. WALTER H. KRAUSE. 

